Belviq

Lorcaserin, also known and sold under the trade name of Belviq, belongs to a group of medicines known as serotonin receptor agonists.

It is considered to work by affecting the certain part of your brain that helps you control you appetite. It is used along with reduced-calorie diet and proper exercises to help you lose weight. 

Its usage has proven successful in the treatment of overweight, obese people which suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart diseases.

Before you agree to the treatment with Lorcaserin, make sure you get informed about the benefits and possible side effects as well as the potential risks. The benefits always must outweigh the potential side effects. 

Inform your doctor about:

• Allergies – Inform your doctor about any allergic reactions that you have had in the past to any medications, prescribed or no prescribed. Also, make sure you tell your healthcare professional about any allergies that you have to specific food, dye, fabric and etc.
• Pediatric – There are no studies that confirm if this medication is safe to use in pediatric patients.
• Geriatric – There are no studies that confirm that this medication is not safe to use in geriatric patients, or if there is age connected risks from the usage of this medicine. However, extra caution is needed because elderly patients are more likely to have kidney problems which would require more caution and adjustment of the dosage.
• Pregnancy – Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or have any plans about pregnancy in the near future. There are studies that confirm that the risks outweigh the benefits if this drug is used in pregnant women, which could result in infant abnormalities.
• Breastfeeding – Inform your doctor if you are breastfeeding at the moment. Although, there are no studies done that confirm that this medicine is extracted in the milk and that way could harm the baby, it is no considered safe to use while breastfeeding.

• Drug interactions – Although, certain medicines should not be used in a combination with other because of the possibility that the combination can occur interactions to appear, there are some combinations of medicines that have proven beneficial to use in certain conditions.

  Inform your doctor if you are currently taking any other medications, prescribed or no prescribed, even vitamins and herbal tea. For example, using Lorcaserin in a combination with any of the following medications is not recommended, but sometimes your doctor may allow it: Buspirone, Cocaine, Dolasteron, Lithium, Tryptophan and many others.

• Other interactions – Discuss with your doctor if any special diet is needed in the time of using this medication, as well as if it is recommended to use it while using tobacco or alcohol.
• Other medical problems – Inform your doctor about your medical history, any medical problems that you have had in the past or present, especially if you have or have had:
  • Bradycardia
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Depression
  • Diabetes
  • Heart problems
  • Hyperprolactinemia
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Mental illness
  • Kidney disease
  • Liver disease
  • Leukemia
  • Multiple myeloma

For proper use, ask for directions from you doctor or healthcare professional.

This medicine is taken orally, with or without food, as directed by the doctor.

The dosage is directed by the doctor as well, based on the medical problem for which you are using this medicine. The usual dose is 2 times daily.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is near the time for the next dose, skip the missed one and wait till the time comes for the next one. If you suspect an overdose, contact your doctor right away.

Inform your doctor if you have any allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reaction to occur.

This medicine may cause dizziness, because of that avoid driving and any activities that require alertness.

Use a proven birth control during the treatment with this medicine. There are no studies that confirm if this medicine could harm your unborn baby, because of that pregnancy is not considered safe during the treatment. Breastfeeding during the treatment with Lorcaserin is not advised as well, because there are no studies that confirm if this medicine is extracted in the milk.

If you have diabetes, this product may affect the level of blood sugar. For that, visit your doctor regularly to check your blood sugar level and consult the doctor if you notice any symptoms of low blood sugar level.

It is important to visit your doctor regularly at your scheduled appointments so that he can track the prognosis of the condition and make adjustments to the dosage if needed.

Along with its needed beneficial effects, there are possible side effects that may occur.

Common side effects are nausea, headache, dry mouth, dizziness, constipation or tiredness which should be reported to the doctor. It is very important to inform your doctor right away if you notice any of the following side effects – easy bleeding/bruising, enlarged breasts, abnormal breast milk production, mental/mood changes (depression, suicide thoughts, confusion), heartbeat problems, breathing problems, swelling of the hands, feet, face, tongue.

If you are suffering from diabetes and you are using other medications for diabetes along with the treatment with Loraceserin, you may experience symptoms of low blood sugar level – sweating, hunger, fast heartbeat, dizziness, blurred vision, tingling hands or feet. In this case, your doctor may need to adjust the dosage of the medication.

Serious allergic reaction is not common, but inform your doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms – skin rash, itching/swelling of the hands, feet, tongue, trouble breathing and severe dizziness.